Blr
- Thread starter DiAdogger
- Start date
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Nice accurate rifle like many Browning products.
The only real fly in the ointment is teardown for detailed cleaning: don't do it!
Clean as much as you can with solvent and soft brush in its complete state. Plan on this cleaning as time consuming event and be careful so cleaning solutions doesnt eat your wood finish. Research this several times on social media before attempting.
Notice the latter series were actually takedown designs.
Huge advantage.
The only real fly in the ointment is teardown for detailed cleaning: don't do it!
Clean as much as you can with solvent and soft brush in its complete state. Plan on this cleaning as time consuming event and be careful so cleaning solutions doesnt eat your wood finish. Research this several times on social media before attempting.
Notice the latter series were actually takedown designs.
Huge advantage.
I’ve owned 2 of them - one in 358 Win and one in 450 Marlin - Liked them Both ! Triggers can be POOR too and there complicated .RJ
I'm not a lever fan, but if I was, the BLR would be the one I'd use by a longshot.
They are accurate, dependable, easy to scope, will take pointy bullets in modern chamberings and have the best detachable mag system out there
They are accurate, dependable, easy to scope, will take pointy bullets in modern chamberings and have the best detachable mag system out there
X2
First hunting rifle was a BLR in .308 back in 85/86. Shot my first Moose and Whitetail with it. Decent weight wise and easy handling are it’s pluses beyond what SuperCub has stated. It is one of those ones I regret trading in for something else. If I could find another in clean shape from the same era I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Got 2: .358 Win & .450 Marlin takedowns lots of field time with both .358 Win downed Moose. Well-made function reliably excellent fit & finish takedowns stow & tote nicely. Triggers take some getting used to bit of take-up like a 2 stage.
I have the Stainless Laminate takedown in 358 Win. I love it. I put on a forward rail and added a Burris 2-7 scout so no issues on return to point of impact with takedown. I also added a Skinner all-pro ghost ring into the rear base hole which works nicely.
The lever is super smooth and the detachable mags are excellent. The takedown is certainly the way to go for cleaning and transport! Personally I prefer the straight stock on line instead of the pistol grip but to each their own.
Really can’t go wrong with a BLR for hunting. New prices are nuts but lots of used ones for good prices around.
The lever is super smooth and the detachable mags are excellent. The takedown is certainly the way to go for cleaning and transport! Personally I prefer the straight stock on line instead of the pistol grip but to each their own.
Really can’t go wrong with a BLR for hunting. New prices are nuts but lots of used ones for good prices around.
Owned a BLR & hunted with it since about 1980. I have many deer rifles ( collector) and a shooter.
I consider the BRL the best overal deer rifle. Best because ;
1 - Browning quality & finish
2 - mag. equiped
3 - lever is smooth , reliable & traditional
4 - easy to scope
5 - accurate to all practical hunting distances. Shot deer to 300 yds several times
6 - not too heavy or long
7 - suitable for field or bush
8 - comes in several common cal.
9 - mine is .243 ,,,, great for coyotes & deer
I consider the BRL the best overal deer rifle. Best because ;
1 - Browning quality & finish
2 - mag. equiped
3 - lever is smooth , reliable & traditional
4 - easy to scope
5 - accurate to all practical hunting distances. Shot deer to 300 yds several times
6 - not too heavy or long
7 - suitable for field or bush
8 - comes in several common cal.
9 - mine is .243 ,,,, great for coyotes & deer
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I find the BLR a fairly decent/perhaps excellent hunting rifle.
The older ones a tad bit heavy, otherwise there wouldn't have been needed the later light weight variant. Same as the takedown variants addressed poor access detailed cleaning.
Nice rifle. But when was the last time you viewed a varmint caliber BLR being used as a frequent range rifle in the off season at a rifle range?
Now look at any standard WW2 yet sporterized era Mauser and tell me how you cannot easily detail strip, maintain, clean it.
Or a Model 70 bolt or 788?
Yes it's an optics ready accurate lever rifle.
But it's got its odd maintenance twerk too.
The older ones a tad bit heavy, otherwise there wouldn't have been needed the later light weight variant. Same as the takedown variants addressed poor access detailed cleaning.
Nice rifle. But when was the last time you viewed a varmint caliber BLR being used as a frequent range rifle in the off season at a rifle range?
Now look at any standard WW2 yet sporterized era Mauser and tell me how you cannot easily detail strip, maintain, clean it.
Or a Model 70 bolt or 788?
Yes it's an optics ready accurate lever rifle.
But it's got its odd maintenance twerk too.
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BLR's seem to be either loved or hated depending on the person. I'm in the second camp but they are a decent rifle. Action is an engineers wet dream, disassembly not advised unless something is broken. Adequate cleaning can be done with modern aerosols, no need to strip down. Long action versions are heavy and hockey puck recoil pad makes them unpleasant on the shoulder. If I were looking for a lever in .308 or .358 I would be after a 99 Savage 1950's vintage but to each their own.
- Location
- Okanagan Valley B.C.
Ditto ; My BLR in .243 is my favorite Deer gun.
Have a BL22 Grade 1 which is a great little plinker
tho the trigger is a little heavy.
... skwerl
Yes BLR's are ugly and complicated on the inside, but I have dated lots of women like that.
243 BLR is the perfect blacktail gun imo, but maybe I'm just being sentimental.
I wish they made a stainless/synthetic straight grip though.
243 BLR is the perfect blacktail gun imo, but maybe I'm just being sentimental.
I wish they made a stainless/synthetic straight grip though.
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Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I understand there was a limited run of this rifle in 25-06 mostly for North Dakota customers.
And rumour of another gun dealer got a special run of the lightweight version in the then discontinued 222 Remington.
And rumour of another gun dealer got a special run of the lightweight version in the then discontinued 222 Remington.
- Location
- Vancouver Island, BC
I love it, particularly the takedown model, which is much easier to clean.
The stainless takedown 358 is my go-to hunting rifle now.
The stainless takedown 450 marlin is loads of fun and, IMO, much better built than a marlin 1895 (I haven't seen the new ruger-built ones though). I initially got it to replace a Wild West Guns Co-Pilot I had sold to a friend and have since since reacquired since his passing. It was 1/3 of the price, and except for the trigger was just as good. In fact I think the detachable mag is more practical, though I guess some would prefer the extra round in the tube mag. I much prefer the 1-lever takedown mechanism on the BLR as well.
I'm on the fence about re-boring a stainless takedown in 270 win to 9.3x62. The balance of the longer BLRs isn't as nice as the short action ones.
The stainless takedown 358 is my go-to hunting rifle now.
The stainless takedown 450 marlin is loads of fun and, IMO, much better built than a marlin 1895 (I haven't seen the new ruger-built ones though). I initially got it to replace a Wild West Guns Co-Pilot I had sold to a friend and have since since reacquired since his passing. It was 1/3 of the price, and except for the trigger was just as good. In fact I think the detachable mag is more practical, though I guess some would prefer the extra round in the tube mag. I much prefer the 1-lever takedown mechanism on the BLR as well.
I'm on the fence about re-boring a stainless takedown in 270 win to 9.3x62. The balance of the longer BLRs isn't as nice as the short action ones.
